Predicting seasonal production of Eragrostis curvula.

Abstract

The potential for mathematical prediction of the yield and quality of forage crops in fodder production planning is still untapped. This paper presents a multiple regression equation accounting for 88% of the variation that occurred in some 270 individual annual yields of Eragrostis curvula. The data originated from nine sites in the eastern high summer-rainfall regions in South Africa. The significant variables were level of applied nitrogen, rainfall, age of pasture and a combination of soil factors. The "Richards" function was used to derive the seasonal distribution of growth rates of E. curvula at four of the nine sites. A procedure for predicting the corresponding production curve for a given farm site is proposed, based on the expected total yield and a selected standard curve. This technique shows promise and it will be applied to other pasture species

Keywords: crops; eragrostis curvula; fodder; forage; growth rate; growth rates; pasture; production; rainfall; seasonal distribution; seasonal production; soil factors; south africa; summer rainfall region; yield